Recently, a black teenager had been surrounded by five white police officers that tasered him after allegedly ignoring a request from law enforcement officials.
The story goes as is: the teenager had been asked to stop vaping on a boardwalk located in Maryland, but he had not complied to the request.
Brian Anderson, 19, had been tasered in Ocean City, Maryland, although it was apparent that he did co-operate with the five officers that surrounded him. He is seen fumbling to the ground as captured on video.
He is seen to have his hands up, showing that he does not mean any harm or pose a threat towards the police officers.point 201 |
Still, the clip had gotten a lot of attention and has been viewed by at least 1.point 64 | 9 million times on Twitter.point 87 | Anderson is seen standing a few feet away, and a nearby officer yells at him to “get down on the ground!” He then tries to reach for the strap of his backpack, but is instantaneously shocked by the taser.point 265 |
This results in Anderson falling to the ground from its impact.point 53 | 1
A woman yells back at the officers saying that he was standing there and to stop, another asked “what is wrong with you?” Another bystander chimes in and says that they did that for “no reason.”
In another clip, it shows Anderson being handcuffed and carried away by the officers.
The residents and witnesses in Ocean City that Anderson had failed to comply with the police officer’s request to stop vaping on the sidewalk, since people need identification for vaping.
Anderson had resisted the arrest, according to police, and was charged with disorderly conduct, resistance and interference with an arrest, second-degree assault, and failure to provide proof of identity.
He has not commented on his arrest.
There were three other teenagers who had been arrested after a “large crowd of people began to form around the officers.point 213 |
” Some of them were charged for conducting foul play against the officers, such as pushing them in the chest while yelling profanities and so forth.point 129 | In additional footage, it is seen that an arrest is in front of a large crowd as several officers try to pin him down to handcuff him.point 237 | 1
Police have released public statements and are aware of the clips that are circulating online, they are reassuring the public that there is a review being launched.